Category Development Manager

Campari Group today is a major player in the global branded spirits industry, with a portfolio of over 50 premium and super premium brands, marketed and distributed in over 190 markets around the world, with leading positions in Europe and the Americas.

Headquartered in Milan, Italy, Campari Group owns 22 plants worldwide and has its own distribution network in 22 countries, and employs approximately 4,000 people.

Shares of the parent company Davide Campari - Milano N.V. are listed on the Italian Stock Exchange since 2001. Campari Group is today the sixth-largest player worldwide in the premium spirits industry.

General Description of the Role

The Category Development Manager role is responsible to support Off Trade, On Trade and eCom channel insights, business understanding and strategies. They will mine insights and build category growth stories that will support customer and Campari initiatives. Have the ability to work with cross functional groups to support Campari & customer growth agenda. Understanding where, and how best to execute plans to deliver our commercial results.

Mission and Objectives

Supporting the Commercial Teams (Marketing, Sales, CCM) with fact based insights to drive brand and portfolio growth for Campari.

Levering your ability to storytell, success in this role will be determined by how well we can engage the audience in the insights and motivate them to take action.

Key Responsibilities and Activities

Insight Generation

• Develop shopper insights to be leveraged in Marketing, CCM and Customer strategy

• Define channel drivers and KPIs ( eg, size, format, pricing etc), and drive understanding of channel/segment attractiveness

• Generate Customer insights analysing commercial strategy and understanding the value chain

• Map the competitive landscape at the channel level (eg category role by channel, shoppers decision process etc)

Supporting Customer, Channel and Brand Planning

• Input into the annual Strategic Business Planning and Brand and Channel Planning processes, to highlight category drivers within the channels as required.

• Lead the Range Review support for RTD and glass for the NBMs & NAMs for the strategic customers EDG, CLG, IBA & LMG.  

• Assist retailers with understand distribution enhancement opportunities, highlight tail for rationalization and provide defence strategies for Campari SKU’s highlighted for deletion.

• Providing expertise in efficient range assortment and NPD SKU prioritization. Inclusive of determining recommended deletes and rationale to support decisions.

• Assist with development of any channel performance updates required for SMAP meetings, reviews or other internal meetings. 

• Lead the mining of insights and action plans from available digital platforms and support the ecommerce customers in execution and improved conversion of the digital shelf.

NPD Initiative Decks and Trackers

• Alongside Channel Strategy, support Marketing to develop the NPD initiative decks, provide robust category & shopper story. Ensuring that all key elements are included for successful customer ranging outcomes

• Assist the RGM Manager with the development of Campari SKU prioritization for each channel

• Assist with the volume build template development for all NPD projects for TG1 and TG2

• Develop and update the monthly NPD trackers shared in monthly SMAP meetings

Organisational Capability and Reporting

• Active member of Insights Hub to respond to ad-hoc briefs and assist with managing insights from our insight resources (eg Circana, Summit, Koji and Five Growth)

• Responsibilities for lfting the commercial capabilities of our cross functional teams, challenging them to use fact based analysis, data points and insights to find opportunities for growth in our Customers or for our Brand and Channel teams. 

Key Relationships

Internal: Innovation & Insights manager, RGM Manager, Channel Marketing Managers, Off and On Trade Marketing Managers, Senior Commercial Finance Manager, Brand Managers, National Account Managers, Head of Customer SLT. 

External: Data & Shopper Agencies (Currently: Circana, Kantar, Koji, Snooper, Summit, Five Growth) 

Experience Required

• Experience with FMCG manufacturer and Off Premise Channel essential (6+ yrs)

• Liquor industry experience highly regarded

• Proven track record of strategic and innovative thinking, holding roles in either Sales or Marketing or Category teams (5 yrs)

• Tertiary Education, with Bachelors Degree with relevant subject focus essential

• Highly Proficiency in Excel, and experience with other data analytic programs (eg Power BI)

• Nielsen and/or Circana/IRI Aztec experience

• Liquor industry experience highly regarded

• Experience managing large cross functional commercial projects desirable

Skills  

• Analytical skills - The ability to translate Industry, channel, customer, category and brand information into actionable insights for both the Marketing and Sales cross functions

• Commercial Acumen - demonstrating a deep understanding of Campari's P&L , customer profitability, and ability to apply financial modeling and ROI estimates on proposed iniatives

• Superior communication skills - The ability to translate actionable insights into compeling internal and externeral presentations (written and verbal)

• Project Management - Ability to coordinate and manage a complex project timeline

Functional Competencies

Formulating Strategies and Concepts - The ability to think at a big picture, future oriented level and think at the forefront of new and cutting edge concepts in the field. Individuals with this competence quickly grasp new concepts and theories, are able to synthesise complex information and recognise patterns and possibilities, and new directions for their function and the business.

Presenting and Communicating - Able to present information, ideas and proposals and communicate in an influential, confident, clear and open way with both internal and external stakeholders.  Being able to articulate strategy, and demonstrate how it connects through to the channel execution plan is central.

Relating and Networking - The ability to establish relationships both inside and outside the organisation as well as cultivating a wide range of contacts that lead to a greater ability to source information and build competitive advantage.

General Competencies

Work Results & Execution – Pays attention to details; Achieves key objectives and meets the defined deadlines; Is highly productive and delivers high-quality; Works effectively under pressure or heavy workload, balances multiple projects; Accepts new and greater responsibilities

Initiative and Judgement - Prioritizes own work efficiently; Takes direction without being prompted; Knows when to consult and when to act independently; Keeps management and peers informed of status and potential problems; Handles confidential information appropriately

Consumer/Client Focus - Understands consumers / customers / internal clients’ needs; Provides all customers with solutions that best meet their needs; Proactively anticipates future needs and seeks out opportunities

Communication and Team Work - Communicates persuasively and passionately; articulates ideas clearly ; Demonstrates effective relationship skills; Responds well to constructive criticism; Obtains acceptance and takes action for ideas; Is an active contributor to the team

Ability to Learn - Shows curiosity and interest to be exposed to new situations / challenges; Quickly acquires and puts into practice new knowledge, behaviours and skills.

Our commitment to Diversity & Inclusion:

At Campari Group we believe in building more value together, thus we see diversity in all forms as a source of enrichment. Our employment policies and practices ensure that we are committed to providing equal employment opportunities in all aspects of employment without regard to any individual’s race, religion, creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, marital status, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or characteristics or expression, political affiliation or activity, age, veteran status, citizenship, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Note to applicants:

Your application will be assessed based on your abilities, expertise, general knowledge and experience, not because of any confidential, proprietary or trade secret information you may possess. You must not disclose to Campari Group any such information. In the event that you are asked a question that cannot be answered without disclosure of any confidential, proprietary or trade secret information (including from a current or prior employer or their vendors or customers), you must decline to answer the question.

Notice to third party agencies:

Please refrain from cold-calling or emailing our executive leadership team or the HR community directly. The Talent Acquisition department manages centralized recruiting operations globally, including the selection and management of external suppliers. Currently, our preferred supplier list is at full capacity. To ensure we have your information on file for future consideration, we kindly request that you complete the online form provided here.